Seedstock Red Angus in the heart of Eastern Colorado

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The rocks of Eastern Colorado

The rock formation in our logo and one of the inspirations for the name of our seedstock herd, Solid Rock, is a Laramie/ Fox Hills sandstone outcropping from the Laramie/ Fox Hills aquifer. This type of rock is not unique to Eastern Colorado. It is similar to the aquifer layering in the sand hills of Western Nebraska. Although different names, it is similar in structure and layering.

The rocks and caves in the”Breaks” area of the ranch – a rocky and pine-covered out-cropping – are also layered sandstone. Being from possibly a different layer or area, the minerals provide different colors and designs in the rock.

All of these rock formations are home to various lichen and moss species. Some are very fragile and and others appear very hardy under the harsh conditions of the Eastern Plains.

Various fossil and shrimp tunnels can be seen in the rocks. The shrimp tunnels were created when the shrimp and their matter decayed over time leaving tunnel formations in the rocks. These tunnels make unique and mysterious looking shapes.

A sea turtle nest was discovered in recent years on the ranch by a local geologist. It has been restored and can be seen in a museum at the School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota. This whole area was, of course, underwater at one time. Just ask Noah, but these “oceanic” and aquifer layers are due to that experience and the drying out after the flood.

It is interesting that these sandstone rocks have always provided home and protection for some animals. Whether it was shrimp, sea turtles, or small fish or currently, insects, mice, rabbits or birds and snakes, this area that looks so desolate teems with life.

How did we start raising Red Angus?

Two themes are central in the lives of our family: First, our faith in Christ Jesus and secondly, our love for Red Angus cattle. Our commercial Red Angus herd has roots to the early 1980’s, and the registered herd began in the 1990’s with a few heifers our daughters purchased. Add those to our acquisition of the entire registered 7U herd from Lonnie and Janet Frimann and our herd has grown to 80 registered females.